Volatile anesthetic compositions comprising extractive solvents for regional anesthesia and/or pain relief

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides methods for reducing pain in a subject in need of such pain reduction by delivering, e.g., intrathecally or epidurally, a volatile anesthetic dissolved in a solution comprising an extractive solvent, e.g., DMSO or NMP, in an amount effective to reduce pain. Chronic or acute pain may be treated, or the anesthetic may be delivered as a regional anesthesia to a subject to anesthetize a portion the subject prior to a surgery, hi certain embodiments, isoflurane, halothane, enflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane, methoxyflurane, or mixtures thereof may be used. Dosing regimens including a one-time administration, continuous and/or periodic administration are contemplated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the fields of anesthesia andpain management. More specifically, the present invention providesmethods for reducing pain by regionally delivering a solution comprisinga volatile anesthetic and an extractive solvent to a subject in need ofpain reduction or anesthesia.

2. Description of Related Art

Millions of people suffer from pain. The pain may be minor, such asheadaches, acute lower back pain, and acute muscle pain, or severe, suchas chronic pain. Chronic pain may be associated with cancer treatment,HIV, diabetes, or other conditions. Chronic pain can be difficult totreat, with many chronic pain sufferers noting that their pain is notwell controlled with current pain medications or that their medicationshave significant associated adverse effects (e.g., nausea and vomiting,dependence, tolerance, etc.).

In an attempt to address the problem of chronic pain management,intrathecal infusion pumps and neurostimulators have been developed.Intrathecal infusion pumps are aimed at continuous, or near continuousdelivery of liquid anesthetic and/or analgesic agents. Many of theseinfusion pumps are totally implantable, which helps to reduce the riskof infection when compared to the long-term use of external systems. Theinfusion pump may also be programmable to allow patients or theirclinicians to adjust dosing amounts or daily delivery schedule, helpingto meet a patient's changing needs.

Neurostimulators are available in various forms and stimulate nerves torelieve pain. Both intrathecal pumps and neurostimulators havedrawbacks, including the onset of tolerance, with the treatmentsbecoming less effective over time. In addition, neither intrathecalinfusion pumps nor neurostimulators are suitable for anesthetizing apatient prior to a surgery.

Various approaches for inducing anesthesia or analgesia are known.Systemic delivery of a general anesthetic renders a patient unconsciousand unaware of the surgery. In contrast, anesthetics may be appliedregionally, for example, to the spine, epidurally, or near a nerve in anerve block to anesthetize only a portion of the patient's body. Forgeneral anesthesia, delivery of a general anesthetic to a patient priorto surgery is typically performed using an initial i.v. injection of ananesthetic followed by intubation and administration of an inhalableanesthetic gas. It is worthwhile to note that the mechanism of actionfor general anesthesia is still not completely understood.

Considerable negative side effects may result from administration ofgeneral anesthesia. A large tube has to be placed into the trachea,which can result in trauma to the upper airway. Many patients reportpostoperative hoarseness and tenderness of the mouth and throat. Inaddition, the large amount of gases required to flood the body to reachthe targeted organs can have an adverse affect on the non-targetedorgans, especially the heart, with an increased risk of cardiopulmonarymorbidity during general anesthesia. Especially in the elderly, there issubstantial evidence for prolonged cognitive dysfunction followinggeneral anesthesia (Moller et al., 1998). Additionally, regionalanesthetic techniques appear to lead to less overall morbidity andmortality from cardiopulmonary causes as compared to general anesthesia(Rasmussen et al., 2003; Rogers et al., 2000)

Certain risks are also associated with inhalation administration of avolatile anesthetic, e.g., during general anesthesia. Volatileanesthetic compositions formulated for inhalation generally haverelatively low boiling points and high vapor pressures. Volatileanesthetic compositions are often flammable or explosive in both theirliquid and vapor states. Further, inhalation of vapors by health carepersonnel can cause drowsiness, which is not desirable in an operatingroom environment. Thus, substantial care must be taken to safely handlevolatile anesthetics in order to minimize both the risk of inhalation bymedical personnel and the risk of fire or explosion, and care must betaken to try to ensure that there is little or no release of thevolatile anesthetic into the atmosphere at all stages of handling.

Clearly, there exists a need for improved methods for pain managementand regional anesthesia. Further, there exists a need for volatileanesthetic compositions that have reduced risks, as described above,associated with their use. There is also a need for methods fordelivering such improved volatile anesthetic compositions, e.g., fortreating pain or for use in a surgical procedure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes limitations in the prior art byproviding improved volatile anesthetic compositions and methods foradministering anesthetics and reducing pain in a subject, such as ahuman or animal patient or laboratory animal such as a mouse or rat, inneed of such pain reduction. In certain embodiments, the presentinvention provides an anesthetic composition comprising a volatileanesthetic dissolved in a aqueous-based solution, wherein the solutionfurther comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable extractive solvent(e.g., DMSO, etc.).

The presence of an extractive solvent in the solution comprising thevolatile anesthetic may provide substantial advantages, includingimproving the physical characteristics, pharmacological properties,and/or the ease of use of the anesthetic solution. The extractivesolvent may interact with the volatile anesthetic (e.g., isoflurane) ina non-azeotropic fashion to effectively reduce vaporization orevaporation of the volatile anesthetic. In this way, the shelf-life,durability, and/or ease of use of a volatile anesthetic in solution maybe improved. The presence of an extractive solvent in the anestheticsolution may also improve the ease of mixing the solution prior toadministration; in certain embodiments, a sonicator is not required tomix the anesthetic solution prior to use. Additionally, thepharmacokinetics of the volatile anesthetic may be altered by thepresence of an extractive solvent to provide improved pain relief. Forexample, without wishing to be bound by any theory, the inventorsanticipate that the extractive solvent may function in certainembodiments as a reservoir for the volatile anesthetic to maintain thevolatile anesthetic in a particular region more effectively and/or helpdeliver the volatile anesthetic to site(s) of action. Reduced volatilityof the volatile anesthetic in solution may also improve the ease ofhandling the anesthetic compositions. Further, the reduced vaporizationof a volatile anesthetic in solution due to the presence of anextractive solvent may also reduce concerns, as described above,regarding a possible risk of fire and/or inhalation by medicalpersonnel.

It is understood that the invention does not include administration of avolatile anesthetic to a subject by inhalation of the volatileanesthetic vapor alone. The methods preferably comprise the local orregional delivery, such as, for example, transdermal, topical, mucosal,buccal, rectal, vaginal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intrathecal orepidural delivery, of a volatile anesthetic in an aqueous based solutionto the subject in an amount effective to reduce chronic or acute pain.In other embodiments, an anesthetic composition of the present inventionmay be administered topically in an amount sufficient to reduce pain.More specifically, the inventors have discovered that, in certainembodiments, anesthetic compositions of the present invention may beadministered topically to a human subject to achieve local painreduction. In certain embodiments, and the anesthetic may be deliveredto the subject to anesthetize the subject prior to a surgery. It shouldbe understood, that as used herein, the phrase “pain reduction” isintended to cover pain reduction as a result of anesthesia, analgesia,and/or the inhibition of neural impulses involved in pain perception,e.g., via partial nerve conduction block. In certain embodiments, thecompositions of the invention may be delivered to a portion of thesubject in an amount and in a manner effective to reduce pain. In otherembodiments, the compositions of the invention may be delivered to aportion of the subject in an amount and in a manner effective to reducepain without substantially interfering with motor function of thesubject.

The present invention has several substantial advantages over previouslyused methods for regional anesthesia. These advantages include: (1) thevolatile anesthetics of the present invention are rapidly titratable,thus administration of a volatile anesthetic according to the presentinvention can result in a very quick onset of analgesia or regionalanesthesia. (2) The present invention allows for the quick dissipationof anesthetics after administration; thus the anesthesia or analgesiamay be rapidly ended. These properties are of particular value to apractitioner, as it may be desirable for a practitioner to quickly alterthe dosing of a regional anesthesia or analgesia as desired. (3) Certaindrugs presently used for regional anesthesia may not be effectively usedon various individuals for a variety of reasons, including tolerance,drug interactions, paradoxical responses, etc. Additionally, (4) thevolatile anesthetics of the present invention are generally non-opioidcompounds, which provides various benefits for a practitioner, asopioids possess certain disadvantages, including tolerance, druginteractions, and dependence etc.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a method for reducing painin a subject in need of such pain reduction comprising regionally orlocally delivering to the subject a volatile anesthetic dissolved in asolution comprising an extractive solvent in an amount effective toreduce pain. If the administration is intrathecal or epidural, then thesolution may be free or essentially free of a lipid emulsion. Inpreferred embodiments, the anesthetic is delivered by routes other thanintravenously in that intravenous delivery could potentially give riseto general anesthesia that, while not specifically excluded from thepresent invention, is not a preferred aspect. Preferred volatileanesthetics are the halogenated ether anesthetic dissolved in anaqueous, pharmaceutically acceptable solution. The anesthetic maypreferably be delivered intrathecally, epidurally, or in a nerve blockprocedure, to relieve, for example, chronic pain or acute pain. Incertain embodiments, the anesthetic may be administered locally ortopically prior to a procedure such as a venipuncture, an injection(e.g., Botox™), a peripheral venous cannulation, incision or otherprocedure; in other embodiments, the anesthetic may be administered vianon-topical routes. The anesthetic may be topically applied prior to acosmetic procedure such as hair removal, tattoo application or removal,and/or a mammography.

Various extractive solvents may be used with the present invention. Forexample, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP),dimethylisosorbide, ethanol, propanol, or isopropanol may be theextractive solvent. The extractive solvent may comprise from about 10%to about 75% of the solution, 25% to about 75% of the solution, 10% toabout 50% of the solution, from about 10% to about 25% of the solution,or from about 25% to about 50% of the solution.

In certain embodiments, a volatile anesthetic in solution is deliveredto anesthetize a portion of the subject prior to a surgery. The volatileanesthetic may be a halogenated volatile anesthetic selected from thegroup consisting of isoflurane, halothane, enflurane, sevoflurane,desflurane, methoxyflurane, and mixtures thereof. In certainembodiments, isoflurane is used. The solution, such as an isofluranesolution, may be prepared in a concentration of about 5 ng/ml solutionto about 100 ng/ml solution. The solution may comprise from about 0.1%to about 15% v/v, 1% to about 75% v/v, 1% to about 50% v/v, 5% to about50% v/v, 5% to about 75% v/v, from about 10% to about 50% v/v, or about10% v/v anesthetic in solution. The anesthetic may be isoflurane and/orthe solution may be artificial cerebrospinal fluid. When administeredepidurally or intrathecally it is desirable to achieve a concentrationof from about 250 ng/ml to about 50,000 ng/ml of active agent in thespinal fluid. The delivery of the active agent may be continuous,periodic, a one-time event, or the active agent may be both periodicallyadministered and continuously administered to the subject on separateoccasions. The reduction may comprise elimination of pain perception ofa portion of the body of the subject.

In certain embodiments, the compositions of the invention may bedelivered to a portion of the subject in an amount and in a mannereffective to reduce pain without substantially interfering with motorfunction of the subject, for example, by varying the dosage, amount,concentration, frequency of administration, and/or timing ofadministration. Tests useful for the evaluation of motor functioninclude, for example, but are not limited to, the Minnesota Rate ofManipulation (MRM) test (Fleishman, 1964, Abilities and motor skill. In:The structure and measurement of physical fitness Prentice-Hall, Inc.:Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1964, pp. 23-24), the Upper Extremity FunctionTest (UEFT) (Carroll, 1965, J Chron Dis 18: 479-491), the PurduePegboard test (Tiffin et al., 1948, J Appl Psychol 32: 234-247), theJebsen test of hand function (Jebsen et al., 1969, Arch Phys Med Rehab50: 311-319), the Nine-Hole Peg test (Kellor et al., 1971, Am J OccupTher 25: 77-83), the Smith hand function evaluation (Smith, 1973, Am JOccup Ther 27: 244-251), the Box and Block Test (BBT) (Holser et al.,1960, Box and Block test. In: Cromwell FS (ed) Occupational therapistsmanual for basic skills assessment: primary prevocational evaluationFair Oaks Printing Company Pasadena, Calif., pp. 29-31), the PhysicalCapacities Evaluation of Hand Skill (PCE) (Bell et al., 1976, Am J OccupTher 30: 80-86), the Action Research Arm (ARA) test (Lyle, 1981, Int JRehabil Res 4: 483-492), the Sollerman hand function test (Sollerman etal., 1995, Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg 29: 167-176), LowerExtremity MOtor COordination Test (LEMOCOT) (Desrosiers et al., 2005,Arch Phys Med Rehabil 86, 993-98), the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (Fugl-Meyeret al., 1975, Scand J Rehabil Med 7:13-31), Berg Balance Scale (Berg etal., 1995, Scand J Rehabil Med 27:27-36; Berg et al., 1989, PhysiotherCan 41:304-11, Berg et al, 1992, Arch Phys Med Rehabil 73:1073-80;Stevenson et al., 1996, Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1996; 77:656-62), 5-meterwalking test (5MWT) (Salbach et al., 2001, Arch Phys Med Rehabil82:1204-12), 2-minute walking test (Wade, 1992, Measurement inneurological rehabilitation. New York: Oxford Univ Pr; Guyatt et al.,1984, Thorax 39:818-22), and the Functional Autonomy Measurement System(Hébert, 1988, Age Ageing 17:293-302), all of which references areincorporated herein in their entirety.

Preferably, in that the solution is intended for parenteral or topicaladministration, the aqueous solution comprising the volatile anestheticis sterile. This can be achieved by ensuring that all starting materialsare sterile and maintaining them under sterile conditions prior toadministration. As for the underlying aqueous solution, the nature ofthe solution is not believed to be critical, and solutions such asnormal saline or even solutions formulated to mimic natural body fluids,such as artificial cerebrospinal fluids, are contemplated.

Yet another aspect of the present invention involves a sealed containercomprising an anesthetic solution of the present invention. The interiorof the container may be sterile. The container may comprise a rubberstopper which can be easily pierced by an injection needle. Thecontainer may comprise the chamber portion of a syringe. The containermay comprise a drip chamber. The drip chamber may be coupled to acatheter. The catheter may be an epidural catheter or an intrathecalcatheter. The container may be a plastic bag, a glass bottle, or aplastic bottle. The container may be coupled to an infusion pump. Theinfusion pump may be an intrathecal pump, an epidural delivery infusionpump, or a patient control analgesia (PCA) pump. The infusion pump maybe programmable.

The terms “inhibiting,” “reducing,” or “preventing,” or any variation ofthese terms, when used in the claims and/or the specification includesany measurable decrease or complete inhibition to achieve a desiredresult.

The term “effective,” as that term is used in the specification and/orclaims, means adequate to accomplish a desired, expected, or intendedresult.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term“comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” butit is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,”and “one or more than one.”

It is contemplated that any embodiment discussed in this specificationcan be implemented with respect to any method or composition of theinvention, and vice versa. Furthermore, compositions of the inventioncan be used to achieve methods of the invention.

Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that avalue includes the inherent variation of error for the device, themethod being employed to determine the value, or the variation thatexists among the study subjects.

The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unlessexplicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternativesare mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definitionthat refers to only alternatives and “and/or.”

As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (andany form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having”(and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and anyform of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing”(and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) areinclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecitedelements or method steps.

Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of this invention can bepresented in a range format. It should be understood that thedescription in range format is merely for convenience and brevity andshould not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be consideredto have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well asindividual numerical values within that range. For example, descriptionof a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specificallydisclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual and partialnumbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5.5 and 6. Thisapplies regardless of the breadth of the range.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and the specificexamples, while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: A flowchart representing a general method for delivering ananesthetic gas to a subject.

FIG. 2: Inhibition of pain via intrathecal administration of isofluranesolution as measured using the hotplate test.

FIG. 3: Inhibition of pain using intrathecal isoflurane in artificialcerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) and/or DMSO. The time course forIsoflurane-ACSF and Isoflurane-DMSO/ACSF, at a dose of 1.46 mgisoflurane, is shown.

FIG. 4: A stimulus response (SR) graph is shown of the maximal possibleeffect (MPE) by dose for the time point of 10 minutes after intrathecalinjection of isoflurane-ACSF.

FIG. 5: Inhibition of pain using a Plantar Heat Stimulation Test vialocal administration of isoflurane. The administration of isofluraneinto the hindpaw produced a significant antinociceptive effect (iso)when compared to the untreated paw (con.iso). The antinociceptive effectstarted at 25 min and continued throughout the experiment. Theadministration of lidocaine (lid versus con.lid) resulted in significantantinociceptive effect, which started at 5 min, peaked at 15 min andreturned to the baseline levels at 45 min. #P<0.05 isoflurane versuscontrol (n=4). * P<0.05 lidocaine versus control (n=3).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention overcomes limitations in the prior art byproviding improved volatile anesthetic compositions comprising avolatile anesthetic dissolved in a aqueous-based solution, wherein thesolution further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable extractivesolvent. The presence of the extractive solvent may provide certainadvantages for the anesthetic composition, including a reduction in theanesthetic vapors emitted from the solution (e.g., reducing risksassociated with the flammability of the vapors and/or inhalation bymedical personnel), improvements in the shelf-life or durability of thecomposition, and/or improved pharmacokinetics of the anestheticcomposition. For example, the extractive solvent may interact with thevolatile anesthetic (e.g., isoflurane) in a non-azeotropic fashion toeffectively reduce vaporization or evaporation of the volatileanesthetic. In this way, the shelf-life and/or durability of a volatileanesthetic in solution may be improved. Additionally, thepharmacokinetics of the volatile anesthetic may be altered to provideimproved pain relief. For example, without wishing to be bound by anytheory, the inventors anticipate that the extractive solvent mayfunction in certain embodiments as a reservoir for the volatileanesthetic to maintain the volatile anesthetic in a particular regionmore effectively and/or help deliver the volatile anesthetic to site(s)of action. In various embodiments, the presence of an extractive solventin the anesthetic solution can also allow for mixing the solution priorto administration without the use of a sonicator.

The present invention also provides methods for using such anestheticcompositions for reducing pain in a subject in need of such painreduction. Specifically, although volatile anesthetics are normallyinhaled during a general anesthesia procedure, the inventors havediscovered that volatile anesthetics may be dissolved in a solution anddelivered regionally or locally (e.g., transdermally, topically,mucosally, buccally, rectally, vaginally, intramuscularly,subcutaneously, intrathecally, epidurally, or in a nerve block) toinhibit or block pain perception. In certain embodiments, the anestheticmay be administered locally or topically prior to a procedure such as avenipuncture, an injection (e.g., Botox™), a peripheral venouscannulation, incision, or other procedure; in these embodiments, theadministration of the anesthetic preferably reduces or prevents painfrom being felt by the subject prior to and during a medical procedure,including minor surgical procedures, non-surgical procedures, andcosmetic procedures including, e.g., hair removal, tattoo application,tattoo removal, and mammography.

In general, the methods may involve the delivery of a halogenated etheranesthetic to the subject in an amount effective to reduce pain. Thepresent invention may be used for pain management of chronic or acutepain. In other embodiments, the anesthetic may be delivered to a subjectto anesthetize at least a portion of the subject prior to a surgery. Incertain embodiments, the present invention may be used to reduce oreliminate pain in a subject without also causing a loss of consciousnessof the subject. In other embodiments, the present invention may be usedto reduce or eliminate pain in a subject without also substantiallyinterfering with motor function of the subject.

Extractive Solvents

Anesthetic compositions of the present invention may contain a solvent,such as an extractive solvent, in combination with a volatileanesthetic. The phrase “extractive solvent,” as used herein, refers to asolvent which may interact with a volatile anesthetic in solution toreduce the volatility of the volatile anesthetic without chemicallyreacting to the anesthetic. Certain extractive solvents interact in anon-azeotropic fashion with a volatile anesthetic; nonetheless, the term“extractive solvent,” as used herein, may include certain compoundswhich interact with a volatile anesthetic to form an azeotropic orpseudoazeotropic solution as long as the vapor pressure or evaporationof the volatile anesthetic from the solution is reduced. As describedbelow, various extractive solvents are envisioned for use with thepresent invention, e.g., DMSO, NMP, etc. The extractive solvents usedwith the present invention are preferably pharmacologically acceptable.The exact concentration of an extractive solvent may be determinedempirically and may vary according to the specific volatile anestheticused. Particular care should also be taken to choose a concentration ofan extractive solvent which results in little or no toxicity whenadministered. It will be understood that, although certain extractivesolvents may exhibit properties which might be used in variousseparation procedures (e.g., extractive distillation), extractivesolvents according to embodiments of the present invention arepreferably included in pharmacological mixtures or solutions comprisinga volatile anesthetic in order to reduce the volatility of, rather than“extract,” the volatile anesthetic.

Including an extractive solvent in an anesthetic composition mayincrease the ease with which one can admix the solution prior toadministration. For example, in certain embodiments, sonication of theanesthetic solution prior to administration is not required when anextractive solvent is included in the anesthetic solution. Thisadvantage may be particularly useful in instances (e.g., chronicadministration) where the presence of a sonicator could be noisy ordistracting, such as an operating room, and the elimination in the noiseof a sonicator may also create an improved environment for a consciouspatient receiving an anesthetic solution, e.g., chronically orintermittently for pain relief. Eliminating the need for a sonicator, orother similar device, may also be particularly useful for reducing costsassociated with administration of an anesthetic composition according tothe present invention. The reduction in the bulk associated with thepresence of a sonicator can beneficially improve patient mobility. Forexample, in instances where a patient may receive repeatedadministrations of an anesthetic composition via a pump for analgesia,the reduced amount of equipment can improve mobility since the patientis not required to additionally move a sonicator.

Extractive solvents are known in the art and are typically used inextractive distillation for separating compounds with similar boilingpoints by retarding the vapor pressure of the principal component,thereby making possible an efficient separation which would not at alloccur in the absence of such solvent. For example, U.S. Pat. No.5,230,778 describes the purification of isoflurane by extractivedistillation using extractive solvents such as dimethylformamide. U.S.Pat. No. 5,336,429 describes solvents for cleaning electronic componentsand for degreasing metals comprising isoflurane and a lower alcohol oran ester, although these compositions are described as azeotropicmixtures with virtually constant boiling points. In contrast, thepresent invention provides pharmaceutical preparations, e.g., forinducing analgesia and/or regional anesthesia. Certain extractivesolvents known in the art, such as acetone as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,230,778, may be sufficiently toxic to limit their inclusion inpharmaceutical preparations at higher concentrations.

In certain embodiments, an extractive solvent may interact as anazeotropic mixture with an anesthetic and reduce the volatility of theanesthetic. For example, ethanol may interact in an azeotropic fashionwith a volatile anesthetic as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,778.

Various concentrations of an extractive solvent may be used with thepresent invention. For example, a solution of the present inventioncomprising a volatile anesthetic may comprise about 1%-99%, 1%-60%,5%-50%, 10%-40%, 5%-25%, 10%-30%, 10%-25%, 25%-50%, 10%-75%, 25%-75%,10%-65%, 25%-65%, 10%-60%, 25%-60%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%,45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80% or any range derivable therein,of an extractive solvent.

In certain embodiments, the extractive solvent is dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO) or N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). In other embodiments, anextractive solvent such as dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, ordimethylisosorbide may be used. In instances where acetone is used, careshould be taken to choose an appropriate dose in order to minimize anypossible toxicity.

In various embodiments, it is envisioned that a medically acceptablealcohol, such as ethanol, propanol, or isopropanol may be used. In theseembodiments, the concentration of the alcohol used is sufficientlydilute in solution such that little or no neuron death occurs as aresult of injection of the solution near a nerve.

A single extractive solvent or multiple extractive solvents may bepresent in an anesthetic composition of the present invention. Forexample, in certain embodiments, only a single extractive solvent (e.g.,DMS or NMP) is present in a solution comprising a volatile anesthetic.In other embodiments, 2, 3, 4, or more extractive solvents may bepresent in a solution comprising a volatile anesthetic. In certainembodiments, only a single volatile anesthetic (e.g., isoflurane) ispresent in an anesthetic solution of the present invention; in otherembodiments, 2, 3, 4 or more volatile anesthetics may be present in ananesthetic composition of the present invention.

N-Methyl Pyrrolidone

N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is an extractive solvent which may beincluded in anesthetic compositions according to the present invention.NMP is a chemical compound with 5-membered lactam structure. It is aclear to slightly yellow liquid miscible with water and solventsincluding ethyl acetate, chloroform, benzene and lower alcohols orketones. NMP is also referred to by the chemical names1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and m-pyrrole. NMPbelongs to the class of dipolar aprotic solvents which also includesdimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide and dimethyl sulfoxide. Due to itsgood solvency properties, NMP has been used to dissolve a wide range ofchemicals, particularly in the polymers field. It also used as a solventfor surface treatment of textiles, resins and metal coated plastics oras a paint stripper.

NMP has been used in the medical industry to improve the solubility ofpoorly soluble drugs in certain pharmaceutical formulations. Forexample, NMP has been used with various drugs in veterinary medicine.Several patents have been issued, claiming improvements in drugsolubility by the use of NMP, as well as its applicability in topicaland transdermal pharmaceutical products for humans.

The relatively non-toxic properties of NMP make it particularly suitablefor use as an extractive solvent with the present invention. NMP has afavorable toxicity profile making it a suitable candidate for use in avariety of topical, transdermal and parenteral dosage forms. NMP isavailable in GMP grade under the trademark PharmasolveN-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone sold by International Specialty Products (ISP;New Jersey, USA).

DMSO

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is used in certain embodiments of the presentinvention as an extractive solvent. DMSO has the formula (CH₃)₂SO. DMSOis a polar aprotic solvent that dissolves both polar and nonpolarcompounds and is miscible in a wide range of organic solvents as well aswater.

DMSO is a relatively non-toxic compound, which makes it particularlysuitable for use as an extractive solvent with the present invention.The relative lack of toxicity of DMSO is well established, and thepotential use of DMSO for medical purposes was established Stanley Jacobat the University of Oregon Medical School team, who discovered DMSOcould penetrate the skin and other membranes without damaging them andcould carry other compounds into a biological system. DMSO has also beenused as a cryoprotectant and as an anti-inflammatory agent. Dimethylsulfoxide dissolves a variety of organic substances, includingcarbohydrates, polymers, peptides, as well as many inorganic salts andgases.

In various embodiments, it is envisioned that lower concentrations,e.g., as low as from about 5% to about 10%, of DMSO in a solutioncomprising a volatile anesthetic may be sufficient to eliminate the needfor sonication of the solution prior to administration. Higherconcentrations, e.g., from about 25% to about 75% or higher, from about30% to about 60% or higher, of DMSO in a solution comprising a volatileanesthetic may be sufficient to alter the pharmacokinetics of thevolatile anesthetic in such a way to allow for an increased duration ofanalgesic or anesthetic effects.

Anesthetic Agents

In general, the halogenated ether anesthetics or volatile anestheticssuitable for use with the described methods include agents which,although often liquid at room temperature, are capable of easily beingbecoming gaseous or are already gaseous at room temperature and canreduce pain without significant side effects. It may be desirable, forexample, to select an anesthetic that is minimally metabolized by thebody or is otherwise inert. In this way, liver and kidney toxicity maybe minimized. Similarly, it may be desirable for the anesthetic to havea short half-life, or be fast acting to promote titratability (i.e., thesubject can easily adjust the delivery amount for the amount of pain heor she is experiencing). An active agent gas that does not producetolerance (unlike opioids or local anesthetic agents) or dependence(like opioids) may also be desirable. The methods of the presentinvention may also be used to deliver another volatile agent to asubject, e.g., topically, locally, or in a regional anesthesiaprocedure. The volatile agent may be an anesthetic or small molecule.

Volatile anesthetics are a well known class of anesthetics whichincludes halogenated ether compounds, isoflurane, sevoflurane,halothane, enflurane, desflurane, methoxyflurane, and diethyl ethers. Incertain embodiments xenon may also be used with the present invention. Asingle anesthetic or mixtures of the above anesthetics may beparticularly suitable for use with the methods described herein.

In various embodiments, a gas anesthetic may used with the presentinvention. For example, the gas anesthetic may be dissolved in asolution according to the present invention and administered in aregional or local anesthesia procedure, such as such as transdermally,topically, mucosally, buccally, rectally, vaginally, intramuscularly,subcutaneously, epidurally, intrathecally, or in a nerve blockprocedure. Gas anesthetics other than halogenated anesthetics arecontemplated, and examples or which include xenon, nitrous oxide,cyclopropane, and ether. In various embodiments, other biologicallyactive gases (e.g., nitric oxide, etc.) may be delivered in a solutionto a subject according to the present invention.

More than one anesthetic may be administered at one time, and differentanesthetics may be administered at various times throughout a singletreatment cycle. For example, 2, 3, 4 or more anesthetic agents may besimultaneously or repeatedly administered to a subject. When compoundsare repeatedly administered to a subject, the duration betweenadministration of compounds may be about 1-60 seconds, 1-60 minutes,1-24 hours, 1-7 days, 1-6 weeks or more, or any range derivable therein.In some instances, it may be desirable to stage the delivery ofdifferent halogenated ether compounds depending on their physical andphysiological properties.

Dosing

The amount of the anesthetic to be administered, e.g., intrathecally orepidurally, depends on the particular indication desired. For example,the dose will depend on the type of pain intended to be treated. Thedose may be different, for instance, if the delivery of the anestheticis intended to reduce chronic pain as opposed to acute pain. Similarly,the dose may be different if the active agent will be used toanesthetize a subject (locally or generally). The subject's physicalcharacteristics may also be important in determining the appropriatedosage. Characteristics such as weight, age, and the like may beimportant factors. For example, the anesthetic may have increasedpotency with age, as has been demonstrated in the case of the volatileanesthetic isoflurane.

The temperature of the volatile anesthetic may also be considered as afactor in selecting an appropriate dose, as the solubility of manyanesthetics may be affected by the temperature of the anesthetic and/oraqueous solution. For example, increases in temperature may increase thesolubility, and thus potency, of the active agent; this property hasbeen demonstrated with certain anesthetic agents. The particular dosagemay also be dependent on the dosing regime chosen. For example, theactive agent may be delivered continuously or periodically. Conversely,the active agent may be administered as a single administration as aone-time event.

Volatile anesthetics (e.g., halogenated anesthetic compounds) may beinfused in amounts leading to spinal fluid levels in the range of about250 to about 50,000 nanograms/ml, depending on the anesthetic selectedand the desired effect. In certain embodiments, a halogenated anestheticor volatile anesthetic may be administered to achieve cerebrospinalfluid (CSF) concentration of from about 5 to about 500,000 nanograms/ml.While the dose range will vary depending on the compound selected andpatient variability, it is generally true that lower doses such as fromabout 0.01 to about 10,000 nanogram/ml are more suitable for treatingminor to moderate pain, while higher doses such as from about 10000nanogram/ml to about 500,000 nanogram/ml or more are suitable fortreating severe pain and inducing anesthesia. Of course, the doses maybe given once (e.g., for a minor single occurrence of pain), repeatedly(e.g., for moderate or chronic pain), or continuously (e.g., for severepain or anesthesia purposes). Combinations of these dosing regimes mayalso be used. For example, a subject suffering from severe pain mayrequire continuous dosing with periodic additional dosing needed forbreakthrough pain.

In embodiments where an anesthetic (e.g., a volatile anesthetic,isoflurane, etc.) is admixed with a solution, such as saline or anartificial CSF solution, the concentration of the volatile anestheticmay vary. For example, a solution may contain an anesthetic in a v/vratio of from about 1 to about 99%, from about 10 to about 75%, fromabout 10 to about 50%, from about 20 to about 50%, from about 1 to about50%, from about 1 to about 45%, from about 1 to about 40%, from about 1to about 35%, from about 1 to about 30%, from about 1 to about 25%, fromabout 1 to about 20%, from about 1 to about 15%, from about 1 to about10%, from about 1 to about 5%, from about 0.5 to about 5%, from about0.1 to about 5%, from about 0.1 to about 2.5%, from about 0.5 to about2.5%, or any range derivable therein. In these embodiments, theanesthetic may be a volatile anesthetic, such as isoflurane, and thesolution may be an artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) solution.

The dosing and manner of delivery of the compositions of the inventionmay be adjusted to achieve pain reduction without substantiallyinterfering with motor function of the subject, for example, by varyingthe amount, concentration, frequency of administration, and timing ofadministration.

The anesthetic solution may also contain one or more additive, such as asurfactant, PVP, a polymers, a antimicrobial agent, etc. In certainembodiments, an anesthetic composition of the present invention maycomprise about: 0.1-50% of a volatile anesthetic such as isoflurane,methoxyflurane, or sevofluorane, 1-99% of an extractive solvent such asNMP or DMSO, 0-90% saline, and 0-10% other additive(s) (e.g., asurfactant, PVP, etc.). In some embodiments, it may be desirable toproduce a concentrated formulation which may be subject to a finaldilution prior to administration.

In various embodiments and as shown in the below examples, a solution ofabout 10% volatile anesthetic, such as isoflurane, may be used; thissolution may be administered as a bolus injection, continuously, and/orrepeatedly to achieve analgesia and/or anesthesia. Thus, as demonstratedin the below examples, a 10% v/v solution of a volatile anesthetic maybe used to induce analgesia. Higher concentrations of volatileanesthetic may be used, in various embodiments, to induce a regionalanesthesia.

Method of Active Agent Delivery

Anesthetics of the present invention may be delivered regionally orlocally. “Regional” or “local” anesthesia, as used herein, is distinctfrom general anesthesia and refers to anesthetic procedures which allowfor the preferential delivery of an anesthetic to a specific region ofthe body, such as near a nerve or a nerve bundle. In contrast, generalanesthesia allows for the systemic administration of an anesthetic,e.g., via intravenous administration. Regional or local anesthesiatypically allows for a lower total body concentration (although elevatedlocal concentrations) of an anesthetic to be administered to a subjectfor analgesia or diminished pain perception of at least a portion of thesubject's body. For example, intrathecal anesthesia, epiduralanesthesia, and nerve blocks are examples of regional or localanesthesia. Specific concentrations of anesthetics which may be used forregional or local anesthesia include from about 250 to about 50,000nanogram/ml, from about 250 to about 25000 nanogram/ml, from about 250to about 10000 nanogram/ml, from about 250 to about 5000 nanogram/ml,from about 250 to about 2500 nanogram/ml, or from about 250 to about1000 nanogram/ml. The specific concentration of anesthetic used may varydepending on the desired effect, and in various embodiments theanesthetic composition is titrated for effect; thus the concentration ofanesthetic used or achieved in tissues may vary depending on thespecific desired result (e.g., regional anesthesia as compared toanalgesia) and/or the particular characteristics of the patient, such assensitivity to the anesthetic.

The present invention may be used with various nerve block procedures.Nerve block procedures according to the present invention may beperformed with or without ultrasound visualization; for example, anultrasound machine may be used to visualize the region of the bodyinvolved a the nerve block procedure, such as, e.g., various nervebundles in the shoulder, neck, lower back, etc. The inventors envisionthat the present invention may be used in conjunction with a variety ofsurgical procedures, including, for example, but not limited to, kneereplacement, a hip replacement, shoulder replacement, and/orbirthing-related procedures.

In certain embodiments, compositions and methods of the presentinvention may be used for pain management. Pain management is distinctfrom general anesthesia in that a lower total body concentration of ananesthetic may be administered to a subject to in order to increaseanalgesia or decrease perception of pain, preferably without renderingthe subject unconscious. Specific concentrations of anesthetics whichmay be used for pain management include from about 250 to about 50,000nanogram/ml, from about 250 to about 25000 nanogram/ml, from about 250to about 10000 nanogram/ml, from about 250 to about 5000 nanogram/ml,from about 250 to about 2500 nanogram/ml, or from about 250 to about1000 nanogram/ml.

Epidural or intrathecal administration of an anesthetic may beaccomplished via techniques known in the art, such as the use of anintrathecal or epidural catheter. The catheter should be placed closerto the nerves critical for the propagation of any pain sensoryinformation which the practitioner desires to inhibit, without damagingthe nerves.

Other routes of administration which are contemplated include:injection, infusion, continuous infusion, localized perfusion bathingtarget cells directly, via a catheter, via nanoparticle delivery,topical administration (e.g., in a carrier vehicle, a topical controlrelease patch, in a wound dressing, a hydrocolloid, a foam, or ahydrogel), intra-articular, intratumoral, and/or intracranialadministration. In certain embodiments, the route of administration isnot oral, intravenous, or via inhalation. An appropriate biologicalcarrier or pharmaceutically acceptable excipient may be used. Compoundsadministered may, in various embodiments, be racemic, isomericallypurified, or isomerically pure.

In certain embodiments, anesthetics of the present invention are notadministered intravenously. Intravenous administration is often used forgeneral anesthesia (Mathias et al. 2004) and typically results in therapid distribution of the anesthetic agent throughout the body of asubject. Thus, in certain embodiments, intravenous administration isincompatible for use with regional or local anesthesia.

FIG. 1 provides a flowchart depiction of a general method for deliveringa halogenated ether anesthetic. As shown in FIG. 1, method (100) beginswith the selection of an halogenated ether compound (102). Thehalogenated ether anesthetic may be a standard volatile anesthetic gas,or an active agent that is capable or reducing pain and of becomingreadily gaseous, as described above.

Solutions

After a halogenated ether anesthetic has been selected, it may bedissolved into a solution (104). The solution may be an aqueoussolution, such as saline, artificial cerebrospinal fluid, the subject'sown cerebrospinal fluid, or the like. In some variations, othersolutions may be appropriate.

Various formulations of saline are known in the art and may be used withthe present invention. For example, the saline may be lactated Ringer'ssolution, acetated Ringer's solution, phosphate buffered saline (PBS),Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline (D-PBS), Tris-buffered saline(TBS), Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS), or Standard saline citrate(SSC).

The saline solutions of the present invention are, in certainembodiments, “normal saline” (i.e., a solution of about 0.9% w/v ofNaCl). Normal saline has a slightly higher degree of osmolality comparedto blood; however, in various embodiments, the saline may be isotonic inthe body of a subject such as a human patient. Normal saline (NS) isoften used frequently in intravenous drips (IVs) for patients who cannottake fluids orally and have developed severe dehydration. In certainembodiments, “half-normal saline” (i.e., about 0.45% NaCl) or“quarter-normal saline” (i.e., about 0.22% NaCl) may be used with thepresent invention. Optionally, about 5% dextrose or about 4.5 g/dL ofglucose may be included in the saline. In various embodiments, one ormore salt, buffer, amino acid and/or antimicrobial agent may be includedin the saline.

Various artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) solutions may be used withthe present invention. In certain embodiments, the ACSF is a bufferedsalt solution (pH 7.4) with the following composition (in mM): NaCl,120; KCl, 3; NaHCO₃, 25; CaCl₂, 2.5; MgCl₂, 0.5; glucose, 12. ACSF canalso be obtained from various commercial sources, such as from HarvardApparatus (Holliston, Mass.).

In various embodiments, a preservative or stabilizer may be included inthe composition or solution. For example, the prevention of the actionof microorganisms can be brought about by preservatives such as variousantibacterial and antifungal agents, including but not limited toparabens (e.g., methylparabens, propylparabens), chlorobutanol, phenol,sorbic acid, thimerosal or combinations thereof. Agents which may beincluded suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutionsor dispersions and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation ofsterile injectable solutions or dispersions (U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,468,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). In allcases the composition is preferably sterile and must be fluid tofacilitate easy injectability. Solutions are preferably stable under theconditions of manufacture and storage and must be preserved against thecontaminating action of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi.Examples of stabilizers which may be included include buffers, aminoacids such as glycine and lysine, carbohydrates such as dextrose,mannose, galactose, fructose, lactose, sucrose, maltose, sorbitol,mannitol, etc. Appropriate stabilizers or preservatives may be selectedaccording to the route of administration desired.

The weight ranges of compounds in the solution may vary. For example, invarious embodiments, the composition may comprise about 1-5 wt %anesthetic agent, about 1-5 wt % preservative/stabilizer, about 1-5 wt %NaCl, and about 85%-97% water. The ratio of anesthetic to water may bevaried as needed to achieve the desired effect (pain reduction oranalgesia, regional anesthesia, etc.).

The solution and/or composition may also be sterilized prior toadministration. Methods for sterilization are well known in the art andinclude heating, boiling, pressurizing, filtering, exposure to asanitizing chemical (e.g., chlorination followed by dechlorination orremoval of chlorine from solution), aeration, autoclaving, and the like.

The active agent gas may be dissolved into the solution in any number ofways. For example, it may be bubbled through the solution, e.g., using avaporizer, or it may be solubilized by agitation. In certainembodiments, an anesthetic such as a halogenated ether or a volatileanesthetic may be measured in liquid form and directly admixed into asolution. Of course, other suitable methods of dissolving the anestheticinto solution may also be used. After the halogenated ether anesthetichas been solubilized, it may be administered to a subject in need ofpain reduction (including pain reduction in the form of anesthesia)epidurally or intrathecally (FIG. 1, 106) using techniques well known inthe art. In certain embodiments, a volatile anesthetic is admixed with asolution in a closed vacuum container, and the combined solutions arethen mechanically agitated for 3-5 minutes and held in a thermo-neutralsonicator until use.

For intrathecal or epidural applications, oil-in-water emulsions may notbe desirable, as a practitioner may not wish to inject oil into thespinal canal. In contrast, saline, artificial CSF, or the patients ownCSF may be used for intrathecal or epidural administration of ananesthetic according to the present invention. Certain emulsions ofisoflurane have been prepared previously for epidural (da Sila Telles etal., 2004) or intravenous administration (Chai et al., 2006). Lipidemulsions may also pose some risk of infection, as has been observed inthe past with bacterially contaminated propofol emulsions. Anestheticsolutions of the present invention which are free or essentially free ofa lipid emulsion may thus have a reduced risk of contamination.

In other embodiments, a lipid emulsion or an oil-in-water emulsion maybe included in an anesthetic composition of the present invention. Forexample, an anesthetic composition comprising a volatile anestheticdissolved in a solution comprising an extractive solvent may alsocomprise a lipid emulsion or an oil-in-water emulsion. In variousembodiments, liposomes (e.g., multilamellar, unilamellar, and/ormultivesicular liposomes) or a lipid composition may contain an aqueoussolution comprising both a volatile anesthetic an extractive solvent.Inclusion of an oil-in-water emulsion or a lipid emulsion in ananesthetic composition may be used, e.g., to favorably affect thestability of the anesthetic composition and/or alter thepharmacokinetics of the anesthetic. Lipid compositions, lipid emulsions,oil-in-water emulsions, and/or liposomes may be useful, e.g., in nerveblock procedures for a regional anesthesia.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise aneffective amount of one or more anesthetic or biologically active gas oradditional agent dissolved or dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier. The phrases “pharmaceutical or pharmacologically acceptable”refers to molecular entities and compositions that do not produce anadverse, allergic or other untoward reaction when administered to ananimal, such as, for example, a human, as appropriate. The preparationof an pharmaceutical composition that contains at least one anestheticor biologically active gas in solution or additional active ingredientwill be known to those of skill in the art in light of the presentdisclosure, as exemplified by Remington: The Science and Practice ofPharmacy, 20th Edition (2000), which is incorporated herein byreference. Moreover, for animal (e.g., human) administration, it will beunderstood that preparations should meet sterility, pyrogenicity,general safety and purity standards as required by FDA Office ofBiological Standards.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodimentsof the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the artthat the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow representtechniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practiceof the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferredmodes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, inlight of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can bemade in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain alike or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

Example I Intrathecal Administration of Isoflurane and Sevoflurane

This study was designed to evaluate efficacy of direct intrathecalinjection of anesthetic agent gases in reducing pain and providinganalgesia. The study was conducted over a one (1) month period usinganesthetic gases isoflurane and sevoflurane injected directlyintrathecally or dissolved in saline as shown in the studies below. Thesubject animal used was the rat, since the rat has a well-establishedmodel of pain/analgesia testing. In particular, Sprague-Dawley ratsweighing over 350 gm were used. The rats were anesthetized withpentobarbital (50 mg/kg), and the anesthetic depth of the animals wasdetermined by corneal reflex and paw withdrawal reflex to a noxiousstimulus.

The neck of the rats were shaved and cleaned with disinfectant solutionsin order to avoid bacterial contamination during surgery. A midlinesurgical dissection of the posterior neck muscles was performed toobtain access to the occipito-atlantoid membrane. This membrane wasidentified and then dissected. A sterile polyethylene catheter wasintroduced in the subarachnoid space until the lumbar enlargement of thespinal cord (approximately 7-8 cm measured in each animal). The surgicalwound was closed, first suturing the neck muscles with 3-0 silk suturesand then closing the skin incision with staples.

After the surgery, the rats were moved to their cages and a radiant lampwas placed over the cages so that the rats would not undergoanesthetic-induced hypothermia. The rats were continuously monitoredfrom the end of the surgery until they were fully awake. Rats showingany motor impairment after surgery were euthanized.

On the fifth day after surgery, those rats without wound infection ormotor dysfunction were transported to the pain behavioral lab to enterthe intrathecal study with volatile anesthetics. Twelve rats wereselected for the study. All these rats had intrathecal catheters.Isoflurane (1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether) andsevoflurane (fluoromethyl 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylether) were used as the halogenated ether compounds. Both of these arehalogenated volatile anesthetic agents, with isoflurane manufactured byBaxter and sevoflurane manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. The 12 ratswere divided into 3 groups of four rats each for study A and B.

In the first group, 2 microliters of preservative-free normal saline wasinjected via the intrathecal catheter into each rat. This catheter wasthen flushed with preservative-free normal saline. Pain behavioraltesting on this group was then performed.

In the second group, 2 microliters of isoflurane was injected via theintrathecal catheter into each rat. This catheter was also flushed withpreservative-free normal saline. This group was then subjected to painbehavioral testing.

In the third group, 2 microliters of sevoflurane was injected via theintrathecal catheter into each rat. This catheter was also flushed withpreservative-free normal saline. This group was then subjected to painbehavioral testing.

A “hotplate” behavioral test was used to evaluate pain perception andanalgesia. The pain behavioral testing model used in these studies havebeen well established by Tony Yaksh. (See, e.g. Chaplan et al., 1994;Yaksh et al., 2001; Kim and Chung, 1992; Sorkin et al., 2001). This testinvolves determining how quickly a rat will withdraw its hind paw inresponse to a noxious stimulus such as a radiant heat source placeddirectly underneath its paw. This time for withdrawal is known as“thermal withdrawal latency”.

Rats were transferred for testing onto a modified Hargreaves apparatuswith a heated glass plate maintained at 25° C. (see Hargreaves et al.,1988). A focused projection bulb below the plate was aimed at themid-plantar surface of the paw. A photodiode-activated timer measuredthe withdrawal latency, and a cutoff time of 25 seconds was used toprevent tissue damage. Thermal withdrawal latency to radiant heat wasmeasured at 5 minutes and 30 minutes after each intrathecal injection.Each paw was tested three times, and the results were averaged. Thebelow data was collected for both the right and left hind paws:

TABLE 1 Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Right Left Right Left Right Left AverageGroup 1: Control Group (Normal Saline) Tested at 5 minutes Rat 1: 9.009.26 10.45 6.74 8.42 9.95 8.97 Rat 2: 11.23 9.32 6.34 7.98 10.65 8.737.19 Rat 3: 7.83 8.21 9.67 11.90 8.55 6.38 8.76 Rat 4: 9.72 8.04 6.778.92 7.88 8.95 8.38 Group 2 Study A: Isoflurane Group Tested at 5minutes Rat 5: 19.81 17.23 20.38 18.91 20.34 18.82 19.25 Rat 6: 17.1919.24 15.88 17.65 18.59 20.72 18.21 Rat 7: 19.20 18.11 17.90 19.80 16.7120.07 18.63 Rat 8: 20.31 19.71 18.34 17.18 16.75 16.38 17.95 Group 3Study B: Sevoflurane Group Tested at 5 minutes Rat 9: 13.81 14.90 13.2315.11 16.03 14.83 14.65 Rat 10: 17.19 13.38 14.29 12.31 13.75 12.0113.82 Rat 11: 14.98 12.34 13.93 11.03 12.37 14.16 13.14 Rat 12: 10.3111.83 13.20 12.66 17.59 12.31 12.98 Group 1 Average: 8.33 seconds Group2 Average: 18.51 seconds Group 3 Average: 13.65 seconds

These rats were then allowed time to recover from their intrathecalinjection. There were no apparent adverse effects such as respiratorydepression, cardiac, or neurological compromise. At 30 minutes after theinjection, the rats were tested again, according to grouping:

TABLE 2 Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Right Left Right Left Right Left AverageGroup 1: Control Group (Normal Saline) Tested at 30 minutes Rat 1: 7.328.02 9.17 8.64 5.89 7.71 7.79 Rat 2: 6.77 5.98 7.81 6.54 9.03 8.20 8.59Rat 3: 7.08 8.39 7.26 8.49 9.23 9.84 8.38 Rat 4: 8.36 9.44 9.15 9.678.54 7.92 8.85 Group 2, Study A: Isoflurane Group Tested at 30 minutesRat 5: 9.87 9.12 10.59 9.02 8.54 9.77 9.48 Rat 6: 9.08 6.35 7.81 8.2210.49 11.62 8.93 Rat 7: 6.32 8.37 9.48 8.45 11.03 10.48 10.52 Rat 8:9.41 10.27 6.76 7.04 7.88 10.32 9.21 Group 3, Study B: Sevoflurane GroupTested at 30 minutes Rat 9: 9.23 8.54 7.30 8.29 9.43 8.87 8.61 Rat 10:7.38 6.87 8.92 7.99 10.83 8.10 8.35 Rat 11: 10.05 8.44 9.32 11.74 7.666.13 8.89 Rat 12: 9.55 10.93 8.67 6.68 9.27 12.11 9.54 Group 1 Average:8.40 seconds Group 2 Average: 9.53 seconds Group 3 Average: 8.84 seconds

The results of this study demonstrated the efficacy of intrathecaladministration of volatile anesthetic agents in reducing pain. At thesmallest intrathecally delivered dose of 2 microliters, an analgesiceffect of isoflurane and sevoflurane was shown. The thermal latency timewas significantly increased, thus showing that the thermal C-fiber painpathway was effectively dampened. This study also shed some light intothe safety of intrathecally delivering active agent gases. None of therats in the study experienced adverse effects, and all of them fullyrecovered from the intrathecal injection after 30 minutes, as indicatedby the return to thermal latency baseline for all groups.

Example II Preparation of a 5 μL Sample of Isoflurane Dissolved inSaline

Isoflurane was dissolved into saline using the following method (alsoreferred to as the “bubbling” method). Study C: A mock vaporizing devicewas created using a 500 ml modified Erlenmeyer flask (2 inlets and 1catheter into the liquid phase). The flask was partially filled with0.9% normal saline and a stoppered glass pipette was inserted into thebottom of the liquid phase for injection of isoflurane. A second egresspipette allowed egress of gas from the closed container. 2% isofluranesolution in oxygen at 2 L/min was injected through the pipette,saturating the 0.9% saline solution after approximately 10 minutes ofinjection. 5 mL was drawn from the saturated saline solution andadministered to 10 animals using the procedures outlined in Example Iabove.

For study C, all animals were prepared as for experiments A and B. Theinventors injected 4 animals with 5 microliter of dissolved isofluranesolution (as prepared in 0030) via intrathecal catheter. Note, control(baseline) latency to paw withdrawal is different in Study C due to adifferent intensity of heat lamp used. Each animal serves as its owncontrol in study C.

Study C Data is presented here: in seconds to paw withdrawal to heatsource. Table and graphic format. Results are shown in FIG. 2.

TABLE 3 CONTROL 5 MIN 10 MIN 15 MIN 30 MIN 60 MIN RAT 1 4.8 11 5.4 7.66.8 6.1 4.4 15 9 7.3 7.2 5.8 4.8 19.5 9 8.8 4.9 5.1 20 6.8 7 5.2 4.9 RAT2 3.4 10.9 9.9 10.4 8.2 3.8 4.3 12.6 8.7 9.4 6.9 4.7 3.6 18.1 12 5.4 8.17 17.3 9 13.4 6.4 4.1 RAT 3 3.6 14.2 12.2 6.1 5.2 4.2 3.8 20 12 7.1 6.13.5 4.7 20 9.1 4.8 5.8 3.3 16 8.9 5.2 6.5 3.8 RAT 5 3.9 9.8 8.8 7.9 4.94.2 2.6 11.8 7.8 6.4 4.3 3.5 2.6 9.1 10.2 6.9 4.7 3.8 11.8 8.1 4.3 3.83.5 Mean 3.875 14.81875 9.18125 7.375 5.9375 4.45625 SD 0.7676713.809235 1.77067 2.231171 1.266331 1.073293

Example III Intrathecal Inhibition of Pain Using Isoflurane Dissolved inArtificial Cerebrospinal Fluid

Pain sensitivity was measured after intrathecal administration ofisoflurane in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). Further, asdetailed below, the isoflurane was first dissolved in ACSF and thensonicated before administration. The dose response relationship was thenevaluated by generating a stimulus-response (SR) graph in order todetermine relevant concentrations of isoflurane that may be administeredintrathecally to achieve analgesia or anesthesia. The characterizationof the pharmacological profile of intrathecal administration ofisoflurane in ACSF was performed in this example using rats; further, aswould be appreciated by one of skill in the art, analogous approachesmay be used to determine the precise pharmacological profile in humans.

Isoflurane dissolved in ACSF was prepared by the following method.Isoflurane was admixed in a closed vacuum container in a v/v ratio of10-50% with buffered salt solution that approximates cerebrospinal fluid(pH 7.4) with the following composition (in mM): NaCl, 120; KCl, 3;NaHCO₃, 25; CaCl₂, 2.5; MgCl₂, 0.5; glucose, 12. The combined solutionswere mechanically agitated for 3-5 min and then held in a thermo-neutralsonicator until use.

The solutions of isoflurane in ACSF were then administered to ratsintrathecally via the following method. Treatment solution is deliveredvia intrathecal catheter that overlies lumbar segment L1-2 in a volumeof 10 μl followed by a 10 μl flush of ACSF.

Pain perception was tested after intrathecal administration ofisoflurane dissolved in artificial CSF using the “hotplate” behavioraltest, as described above, with the modification that a cutoff time of 20seconds was used. As stated above the “hotplate” behavioral testinvolves testing the hind paw withdrawal threshold to radiant heat(i.e., duration of time between before a rat to lifts a paw away from aheat source).

Intrathecal administration of isoflurane in ACSF resulted in analgesia.As shown in FIG. 3, intrathecal administration of isoflurane in ACSF(i.e., at a 1.46 mg dose of isoflurane) resulted in analgesia asmeasured by testing the hind paw withdrawal threshold to radiant heat. A10 μL solution of isoflurane in ACSF (10% v/v) was used. As describedbelow, this dose of isoflurane represents a moderate dose of intrathecalisoflurane. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, DMSO may be included in thepharmaceutical composition for intrathecal injection. A concentration of1% DMSO was used.

The dose response relationship was then evaluated by generating astimulus-response (SR) graph in order to standardize responses acrossanimals and determine relevant concentrations of isoflurane that may beadministered intrathecally to achieve analgesia or anesthesia. FIG. 4shows an stimulus-response (SR) graph of the maximal possible effect(MPE) by dose for the time point of 10 minutes after the injection ofisoflurane in ACSF. Various doses of isoflurane are shown on the x-axis;for example, the 10% v/v solution of isoflurane used above, as shown inFIG. 3, corresponds to approximately a 34% MPE as shown in FIG. 4.Pharmaceutical compositions including ACSF and/or DMSO are shown in FIG.3. MPE is used here to standardize responses across animals. MPE iscalculated as ((drug response time-baseline response time)/(cutofftime-baseline response time))*100. The cutoff time used here was 20seconds. As shown in FIG. 4, a substantial analgesic effect wasobserved. A 1% DMSO solution was used for the data shown in FIG. 4.

Example IV Preparation of Anesthetic Compositions Comprising anExtractive Solvent

The following solutions were prepared. Isoflurane was obtained. NMP wasobtained from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical company. A 40% (v/v) solutionisoflurane-NMP solution was made adding 40 ml of isoflurane to 60 ml ofNMP. A 40% (v/v) solution isoflurane-ethanol solution was made adding 40ml of isoflurane to 60 ml of ethanol.

Saline compositions with varying concentrations of isoflurane and NMPwere made by mixing the above NMP-isoflurane solution with saline asfollows:

TABLE 4 Saline Base-Isoflurane % % Sample (ml) Compositions(ml)Isoflurane NMP A 0 10 40% 60% B 2 8 32 48 C 4 6 24 36 D 5 5 20 30 E 6 416 24 F 8 2  8 12 G 10 0  0  0

Control compositions with varying concentrations of isoflurane-ethanolwere made by mixing the above isoflurane-ethanol compositions withsaline as follows:

TABLE 5 Saline Control-Isoflurane % % Sample (ml) Compositions(ml)Isoflurane Ethanol H 0 10 40% 60% I 2 8 32 48 J 4 6 24 36 K 5 5 20 30 L6 4 16 24 N 8 2  8 12 M 10 0  0  0

To determine the stability of the compositions, the following experimentmay be performed. Each sample is divided into two containers containing5 mls of the sample. One of the samples is capped. The other sample isleft uncapped. Over time (1 hour, 6 hour, 24 hour, etc.), the samplesare examined to see if the isoflurane has separated from solution.Furthermore, the concentration of isoflurane in each solution may bedetermined at each time point. The uncapped sample may be compared tothe capped sample to determine the stability of the solution.Furthermore, the isoflurane-NMP compositions may then be compared to thecontrol compositions. It is anticipated that the anesthetic compositionswill remain miscible at all concentrations.

Example V Preparation of Isoflurane Compositions and Stability Testing

The stability of isoflurane in the compositions was determined in twoways. Firstly, the compositions were examined for the presence of phaseseparation at the macroscopic level. Secondly, isoflurane content of thecompositions were determined by weighing the remaining isoflurane in thecomposition when they were left uncapped over time. Briefly, glass vialswere filled with 5-10 ml of the composition vehicle and then weighed;one of them did not receive isoflurane and served as control. The othervials received varying amounts of isoflurane. They were left uncapped inthe hood. Over time (0, 0.4, 1, 16, 24 h), the vials were weighed to seeif the isoflurane stayed in the composition or evaporated. The amountevaporated over time in the vehicle was subtracted from that in theisoflurane composition, and therefore the amount of isoflurane in thevehicle was roughly determined at each time point.

Pure form of isoflurane is a volatile agent. In order to determine thevolatility of isoflurane, two vials received the indicated amounts ofpure form of isoflurane. The vials were placed in the chemical fume hoodand left uncapped. The vials were weighed in the indicated times todetermine the amount of evaporated isoflurane. As it is shown in thetable below 0.7893 g isoflurane was evaporated within 3 hrs whereas3.4825 g isoflurane took approximately 8 hrs to evaporate completely.These amounts of isoflurane are similar to the amounts of isofluranethat were used to prepare isoflurane (iso) compositions as shown below.

TABLE 6 Pure form 0 h 0.25 h 1 h 2 h 3 h 5 h of (% (% (% (% (% (%Isoflurane remaining remaining remaining remaining remaining remaining(g) iso) iso) iso) iso) iso) iso) 7 h 8 h 0.7893 100 85 52 14 0 3.4825100 96 86 75 62 38 13 3

Preparation of isoflurane solution (v/v) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone(NMP): Pure isoflurane USP (Forane) liquid is mixed with NMP(Sigma-Aldrich) in the indicated concentrations; the mixture wasvortexed vigorously to prepare homogenous isoflurane-NMP solution. Inorder to reduce the amount of NMP in the solution, saline (0.9% NaCl)was added to the mixture.

TABLE 7 NMP Saline Isoflurane Appearance (%) (%) (%) of solutions 1 90 —10 Clear 2 60 — 40 Clear 3 63 27 10 Clear 4 72 20  8 Clear

TABLE 8 0 h 1 h 16 h 24 h Isoflurane (% re- 0.25 h (% (% (% (%concentration maining remaining remaining remaining remaining in NMPiso) iso) iso) iso) iso) 10 100 99 99 94 91 30 100 99 98 90 86

As it is shown in Table 7, 10% and 40% of isoflurane was mixed with NMP,and the resulting solution looked clear. 10% isoflurane in NMP could mixwith saline until NMP concentration was 63% minimum, meaning that whenNMP concentration was less than 63% in the solution, isofluraneprecipitated. As it is shown in table 3, NMP reduced the volatility ofisoflurane (Table 8 versus Table 6).

Preparation of isoflurane solution (v/v) in Propylene Glycol: pureisoflurane USP (Forane) liquid was mixed with Propylene Glycol(Sigma-Aldrich) in the indicated concentrations; the mixture wasvortexed vigorously to prepare homogenous isoflurane-Propylene Glycolsolution.

TABLE 9 Propylene Saline Isoflurane Appearance Glycol (%) (%) (%) ofsolutions 1 90 — 10 Clear 2 70 — 30 Clear 3 72 20  8 Clear

TABLE 10 Isoflurane 0 h 1 h 16 h concentration (% (% (% 24 h inPropylene remaining 0.25 h remaining remaining (% Glycol iso) (%remaining iso) iso) iso) remaining iso) 10 100 89 86 44 23 30 100 94 9053 35

As it is shown in Table 9, 10% and 30% of isoflurane was mixed withpropylene glycol, and the resulting solution looked clear. 10%isoflurane in propylene glycol could mix with saline until propyleneglycol concentration was 72% minimum. As it is shown in table 10,propylene glycol reduced the volatility of isoflurane (Table 10 versusTable 6), however it was not as good as NMP (Table 10 versus Table 8).

Preparation of isoflurane solution (v/v) in Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO):Pure isoflurane USP (Forane) liquid is mixed with DMSO (BDH) in theindicated concentrations; the mixture was vortexed vigorously to preparehomogenous isoflurane-DMSO solution. In order to prepare isofluranesolutions with smaller amounts of DMSO in the solution, saline (0.9%NaCl) was added to the mixture.

TABLE 11 DMSO Saline Isoflurane Appearance (%) (%) (%) of solutions 1 90— 10 Clear 2 50 — 50 Clear 3 72 20  8 Clear

As it is shown in Table 11, 10% and 50% of isoflurane was mixed withDMSO, and the resulting solution looked clear. 8% isoflurane in thecombination of 72% DMSO and 20% saline was prepared, and the resultingsolution looked clear.

Animal Testing

Intraplanar Administration of Isoflurane: 100 μl of pure form Isofluraneor 100 μl of 2% Lidocaine was injected subcutaneously into the planarsurface of the hindpaw. Every rat, the contralateral hindpaw, served asits own control.

Measurement of Paw Withdrawal Latency: Rats are tested for response tothermal stimulation using radiant heat (Planar Analgesia Instrument,UgoBasile, Italy). After the rats acclimate for 15 min under the acrylicboxes that allow minimal movement, the heat source was positionedbeneath the mid-plantar surface of the hind paw. Withdrawal latency isdefined as the period of time from the beginning of the thermalstimulation to the brisk withdrawal of the hind paw. To avoid tissuedamage, a cutoff time of 22 s was set. Thermal stimulation was appliedthree times to each hind paw at an inter-stimulus interval of 3-5 min.Thermalnociceptive threshold was assessed before and after thetreatment. An increase in the withdrawal threshold in the treated pawcompared to the control paw is assessed as analgesic activity of thetested formulation.

Statistical Analysis: For statistical comparison, student paired t-testanalysis was used. Differences were considered significant at P<0.05.

Experiments were performed as described above. As shown in FIG. 5, theadministration of isoflurane into the hindpaw produced a significant(P<0.05) antinociceptive effect (iso) when compared to the untreated paw(con.iso). The antinociceptive effect started at 25 min and continuedthroughout the experiment. The administration of lidocaine (lid versuscon.lid) resulted in significant antinociceptive effect, which startedat 5 min, peaked at 15 min and returned to the baseline levels at 45min.

Example VI Topical Application of Isoflurane for Analgesia in Humans

To evaluate the efficacy of topical isoflurane, a small amount of (1 cc)of 50% ISO/DMSO solution was applied to the skin of a human subject. Thesubject observed local anesthetic properties where the 50% ISO/DMSOsolution was applied with a notable local anesthetic response to lighttouch for approximately one hour duration. No skin irritation wasobserved.

To further quantify this local anesthetic response in human subjects,clinical studies may be performed as described below. Isoflurane (ISO)is a widely used volatile anesthetic agent with a well establishedsafety profile. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an organic solvent whichhas been used as a drug delivery system to facilitate drug movementacross the stratum corneum (the water impermeable skin layer). Previouswork had shown local anesthesia with lecithin-coated microdroplets ofmethoxyflurane (Haynes et al. 1991).

The following approach may be used to test the analgesia of topicalisoflurane. Studies similar to those involving topical amitryptilinestudies (clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00471445) may be performed.Cutaneous evaluation in human volunteers for efficacy and or local skinirritation may also be tested. In the example of amitryptiline,important advances came through pilot human trials with volunteerscomparing different doses and vehicle alone for skin irritation and painblocking properties (Gerner et al. 2003) To differentiate betweenvehicle and active drug, several sites will be tested as outlined belowto include a vehicle only site versus drug+vehicle (in different doses).

Subject Eligibility: Test subjects should be volunteer adults withouthealth problems including lack of skin sensitivity or other medicalproblems. They need to be literate and agree to an application of testmedications to their forearm with a subsequent testing protocol for 4hours.

Treatment Plan: Healthy volunteers may have 3 circles approximately 10cm in diameter drawn on their nondominant forearm with a marking pen.Baseline vital signs may be taken.

Medication may be applied as follows: Low dose ISO/High dose ISO/Vehicleonly to the three spots respectively and covered with a tegaderm (6×7cm, 3M Healthcare, St Paul Minn.). This may be removed after 15 minutes.

Testing may be done at the center of the three circles at baseline(pre-application), 15 minutes (after dressing removal), 60 minutes, 3hours, and 24 hours. Testing may include sensitivity to light touchwith:

Touch detection thresholds. (A delta-small myelinated fibers-“fastpain”touch): Touch detection thresholds may be determined using theup/down method of Dixon 1 with 6 von Frey monofilaments that arecalibrated to administer a force of 0.1, 0.5, 0.9, 3.2, 6.1 or 8.0 mN.Starting with 0.5 mN, the von Frey monofilament may be applied forapproximately 1 sec. If the subject fails to detect the stimulus, thenthe next higher force von Frey monofilament is applied. When the subjectdetects the presence of the stimulus, the next lower von Frey isadministered. The up/down test sequence continues for four additionalvon Frey applications after the initial detection. The 50% mechanicaldetection threshold is calculated using the procedure described inDixon 1. If there is no detection to the highest force von Freymonofilament, then the 50% detection threshold is assigned the value of19 mN;

Pain Detection (C Fiber-large unmyelinated “slow pain”), Sharpnessthreshold and pain to needle probes: Sharpness detection may bedetermined using a weighted needle device 2. The tip of 30 gauge needle(200 im diameter) is filed to produce a flat, cylindrical end. A cottontip applicator is inserted into the Luer connection of the needle, andwashers were placed on the shaft of the cotton tip applicator to achievethe desired force level for the stimulus. The entire assembly is thenplaced inside a 30 cc syringe so that the needle came out of the tip ofthe syringe and the assembly moved freely within the syringe. When theneedle is applied to the skin surface, a reliable and consistent forceis applied. Three forces will be used: 100, 200 and 400 mN. Eachstimulus is applied for about 1 sec. Each force is applied 10 timeswithin each area of interest in a pseudorandom order. The subjects areinstructed to indicate if the stimulus is sharp. If a stimulus is sharp,the subject then indicates if the stimulus is painful.

To assess for skin irritation, the subjects may be asked to rate the“local skin irritation” at each location at each time point on a 0-10scale (0=not irritated at all and 10=extremely irritated). Finally, theskin may be examined for redness and obvious irritation at the site ateach time point as a “present or absent.”

The disclosures of each and every patent, patent application, andpublication cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

All of the compositions and methods disclosed and claimed herein can bemade and executed without undue experimentation in light of the presentdisclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention havebeen described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent tothose of skill in the art that variations may be applied to thecompositions and methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps ofthe method described herein without departing from the concept, spiritand scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent thatcertain agents which are both chemically and physiologically related maybe substituted for the agents described herein while the same or similarresults would be achieved. All such similar substitutes andmodifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to bewithin the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

While this invention has been disclosed with reference to specificembodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments and variations ofthis invention may be devised by others skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the true spirit and scope of the invention. The appendedclaims are intended to be construed to include all such embodiments andequivalent variations.

REFERENCES

The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplaryprocedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, arespecifically incorporated herein by reference.

-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,429.-   Chaplan et al., J. Neurosci. Methods, 53:55-63, 1994.-   Chai Y. F. et al. Anesthesiology 105: A743, 2006.-   da Sila Telles Mathias L, et al., Rev. Bras. Anaestesiol Campianas    54(5), 2004.-   Digger T et al. Hospital Pharmacists 10: 432, 2003.-   Fassoulaki et al. Can J Anaesth 45(12): 1151-1155, 1998.-   Gerner P, et al. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 28(4):289-93, 2003.-   Hargreaves et al., Pain, 32:77-88, 1988.-   Haynes and Kirkpatrick Reg Anesth,16(3):173-80, 1991.-   Kim and Chung, Pain, 50:355-363, 1992.-   Mathias et al., Revista Brasileira de Anestesiologia, ISSN    0034-7094, 2004.-   Moller et al., Lancet., 351:857-861, 1998.-   Rasmussen et al., Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica,    47(3):260-266, 2003.-   Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20^(th) Ed.,    Baltimore, Md.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000-   Rogers et al., BMJ, 321:1-12, 2000.-   Sorkin et al., Anesthesiology, 95:965-973, 2001.-   Yaksh et al., J. Appl. Physiol., 90:2386-2402, 2001.

1. A method for reducing pain in a subject in need of such painreduction comprising administering to the subject by a route other thanintravenously or intrathecally a pharmacologically acceptable solutionhaving a volatile anesthetic dissolved therein in an amount effective toreduce pain, wherein the solution further comprises an extractivesolvent in an amount effective to reduce volatility of the volatileanesthetic.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the extractive solvent isdimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theextractive solvent is dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide orN-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP).
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theextractive solvent is dimethylisosorbide, ethanol, propanol, orisopropanol.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the extractive solventcomprises from about 10% to about 75% of the solution.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the extractive solvent comprises from about 10% toabout 25% of the solution.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein theextractive solvent comprises from about 25% to about 75% of thesolution.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the anesthetic is deliveredlocally or regionally.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the volatileanesthetic is a halogenated ether anesthetic.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein the anesthetic is delivered transdermally, topically,parenterally, mucosally, buccally, rectally, vaginally, intramuscularly,subcutaneously, or in a nerve block procedure.
 11. The method of claim1, wherein the pain is chronic pain.
 12. The method of claim 1, whereinthe pain is acute pain.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein theanesthetic is delivered to anesthetize a portion of the subject prior toa surgery, during a surgery, or after a surgery.
 14. The method of claim1, wherein the volatile anesthetic is selected from the group consistingof isoflurane, halothane, enflurane, sevoflurane, desflurane,methoxyflurane, and mixtures thereof.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the volatile anesthetic is isoflurane.
 16. The method of claim14, wherein the volatile anesthetic is sevoflurane.
 17. The method ofclaim 14, wherein the volatile anesthetic is methoxyflurane.
 18. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the solution comprises the anesthetic in anamount ranging from about 5 ng/ml to about 100 ng/ml.
 19. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the solution comprises from about 1% to about 75% v/vanesthetic in solution.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the solutioncomprises from about 5% to about 50% v/v anesthetic in solution.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein the anesthetic is isoflurane.
 22. The methodof claim 20, wherein the solution comprises artificial cerebrospinalfluid.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein the solution comprises about10% v/v anesthetic in solution.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein theanesthetic is isoflurane and the solution comprises artificialcerebrospinal fluid or saline.
 25. (canceled)
 26. The method of claim 1,wherein the delivery of the volatile anesthetic is continuous.
 27. Themethod of claim 26, wherein the continuous delivery is achieved bytransdermal delivery or via an infusion pump.
 28. The method of claim 1,wherein the delivery of the volatile anesthetic is periodic.
 29. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the delivery of the volatile anesthetic is aone-time event.
 30. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery of thevolatile anesthetic is both periodically administered and continuouslyadministered to the subject on separate occasions.
 31. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the reduction comprises elimination of pain perceptionof a portion of the body of the subject.
 32. The method of claim 1,wherein the solution comprising the volatile anesthetic is sterile. 33.The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is a human.
 34. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the subject is a mouse or a rat.
 35. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the solution comprises saline or artificialcerebrospinal fluid.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the saline isnormal saline.
 37. The method of claim 1, wherein the extractive solventis DMSO, the volatile anesthetic is isoflurane, and the solutioncomprises normal saline or artificial cerebrospinal fluid.
 38. Themethod of claim 37, wherein the DMSO comprises from about 10% to about50% of the solution.
 39. The method of claim 1, wherein the painreduction is achieved with little or no inhibition of motor function.40. The method of claim 1, wherein the volatile anesthetic is titratedto achieve pain reduction with little or no inhibition of motorfunction.
 41. The method of claim 1, wherein the volatile anesthetic isadministered more than once and timed to achieve pain reduction withlittle or no inhibition of motor function.
 42. A pharmaceuticallyacceptable composition comprising a metered amount of a volatileanesthetic dissolved in an aqueous solution comprising an extractivesolvent; wherein the composition is comprised in a pharmaceuticallyacceptable excipient. 43-55. (canceled)
 56. A sealed containercomprising the anesthetic solution of any one of claims
 42. 57-66.(canceled)